Wrench.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

L. P. KELLER.

- WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1904.

N0 MODEL All! @rwe t I UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.-

LOUIS P. KELLER, OF FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO CHARLES R. TALBERT AND GEORGE W. OOLDENSTROTH, OF W'ASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 767,283, dated August 9, 1904,

Application filed March 11, 1904.

To all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches; and it relates particularly to that class known as sliding-j aw wrenches.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench of such construction that a movable jaw may be adjusted to fit a nut or other object by the pressure of the hand and that when so adjusted the jaw will automatically become rigidly locked, rendered incapable of movement by pressure applied between the jaws, and at the same time be readily moved manually torelease a nut or the like or to enlarge the opening between the jaws.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the kind referred to in which the parts shall be of a construction which require in their formation or fitting little or no hand or machine work, thus simplifying and cheapening their construction.

ith these objects in view the invention consists of a wrench constructed substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a wrench constructed in accordance with my. invention, showing by dotted lines the parts carried by the movable jaw. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the wrench. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the wrench on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of the shank, showing a modified form thereof.

In the drawings, 1 represents the shank of the wrench, at one end of which is formed or attached the stationary jaw 2, between which and the movable jaw, to be hereinafter described, is confined a nut or the like to be manipulated by the implement. At the other end of the shank is removably attached a Serial No. 197,676- (No model.)

handle 3. The handle may be secured to the shank in any desired way, as bythe nut 4, engaging a screw-thread 5 on the end of the shank.

The movable jaw 6,which,with its adjuncts, form the important parts of the invention, will now be described. The jaw proper, 7, corresponds in size and contour to the stationa'ry jaw 2, the abutting faces of the two jaws being preferably slightly roughened, as usual in such devices. The jaw 6 has formed with it a housing 8, the inner face of which adjacent to the jaw 7 is formed with an abrupt incline 9, extending outward from the end adjacent to the jaw 7. Arranged within the housing and bearing at one side against the incline 9 and at the other against the shank 1 is a sphere 10, which is preferably of hardened metal. The sphere is normally pressed against the inclined face by a spring 11, which bears at one end against the inner face of the housing and at the other against the sphere. The sides 8 of the housing are each provided with a slot 13, and the size of the sphere is such that when the parts are in place the'sphere projects through the slots, allowing it to be grasped by hand from the outside. In order that the sphere may be prevented from becoming displaced by rough use of the wrench or otherwise, the inclined surface 9 and that portion of the shank againstwhich the sphere bears are preferably concave, affording a means for securing the sphere in place, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The binding of the sphere between the inclined face of the jaw and the shank will ordinarily be perfectly effected when the surfaces with which the sphere contacts are smooth. In some cases, however, it is desirable to roughen the surface of the shank, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to prevent sliding of the sphere when the movable jaw is to be locked. The housing is provided at each end with a projection, and through each projection is an opening of a size and shape corresponding to the crosssection of the shank. An open spacebetween the projections and the sides of the housing allows the introduction of the sphere and spring before the shank is passed through the openings in the projections in assembling the parts of the wrench.

In the use of the device the stationary jaw is placed against a nut or the like and pressure is applied to move the movable jaw into contact with the object. No manipulation of the parts is necessary to effect the moving of I the jaw 6 toward the jaw 2, as a pressure exerted on the jaw 6 to this end releases the sphere from binding on the incline 9. As the jaw 6 is moved the sphere is carried with it, and when the jaw abuts against an object the sphere is held against the incline by the spring. A pressure exerted by the use of the tool on the object grasped will at once firmly seat the sphere, and the greater the pressure exerted the more firmly will the jaw be held. To remove the movable jaw from contact with the nut or the like, the sphere is grasped and moved in a direction away from the same, resulting in releasing the sphere from the binding action between the inclined face and the shank and permitting its free movement.

The sphere is located intheline of pressure exerted in grasping an object between the jaws, so that a direct binding action free from any torsional strain is effected between the jaw and the shank.

Having thus described myinvention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wrench comprising ashank, a stationary jaw carried by the shank, a sliding jaw provided with an inclined surface,and a sphere interposed between the inclined surface and the shank, the sphere being arranged in line with the force applied to the movable jaw in the use of the implement, substantially as described.

2. A wrench comprising a shank, a stationary jaw carried by the shank, a sliding jaw provided with ways for the reception of the shank and with a housing having an inclined inner face, and a sphere arranged between the inclined face and the shank, substantially as described.

3. A wrench comprising a shank, a stationary jaw carried by the shank, a sliding jaw provided with ways for the reception of the shank, and with a housing having an inclined inner face and slotted sides, and a sphere arranged between the inclined face and the shank and projecting through the slots in the sides, substantially as described.

4:. A wrench comprising a shank having a concave face, a stationary jaw carried by the shank, a sliding jaw provided with a housing having an inner inclined concave face, and a sphere arranged between the shank and the inclined face and entering the concaves in the respective parts, substantially as described.

5. A wrench comprising a shank having a concave face, a stationary jaw carried by the shank, a sliding jaw havinga housing formed therewith, the housing having an inclined grooved face and slotted sides, a sphere arranged in the housing entering the grooves and projecting through the slots, and a spring bearing at one end against the sphere and at the other end against the inner face of the housing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS P. KELLER.

Witnesses:

C. W. FOWLER, DAVID H. MEAD. 

